To be ready for May25th and the need to conform to GDPR This does not include DPO, as you won’t need one. Information you hold You should document what personal data you hold, where it came from and who you share it with. You may need to organise an information audit. Communicating privacy information You should review your current privacy notices and put a plan in place for making any necessary changes in time for GDPR implementation. Individuals’ rights You should check your procedures to ensure they cover all the rights individuals have, including how you would delete personal data or provide data electronically and in a commonly used format. Subject access requests You should update your procedures and plan how you will handle requests within the new timescales and provide any additional information. Lawful basis for processing personal data You should identify the lawful basis for your processing activity in the GDPR, document it and update your privacy notice … [Read more...]
Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks
UKBA recently held one of its bi-annual National Conferences, the chance to meet up with colleagues you don't see between one meeting and the next, apart from exchanging emails. Really good to renew relationships, discuss common issues and concerns, and generally realise that you're not alone out there in the big wide world. A common trait we all tend to fall into through time is that we have been there, done that, T-short and all, and believe we know what we are doing well enough. So, first a simple question, could you pass your driving test if you had to take it again? Old habits picked up as tempus fugits, aren't always the best ones to continue with, and you don't always realise you have them. One such event in the dim and distant past was being sent on, not again, a Sales Training course. As circumspect as one might have been at going to these, there was always something that you finally realised was beneficial. Which brings me back to the National Conference. As usual we had a … [Read more...]
IT Support, Fundamental Policies for Your IT Department
As an expert in IT support for small business, I routinely work with clients looking to fully establish an IT department after previously relying for years on the collective efforts of multiple employees from other departments. Establishing a dedicated IT department is certainly no small undertaking. But it is necessary for a small business with IT tasks that have evolved into full-time work. Whether establishing the IT department for the first time or looking to improve an existing department, I encourage my clients to look at the policies they have in place. Every small business IT department should have a least six fundamental policies that govern how the department accomplishes its mission. Those six policies are explained below. 1. Acceptable Use of Technology Workers in the IT department have access to all sorts of technology during working hours. A policy outlining the acceptable use of said technology is critical. This policy defines how computers, mobile phones, fax … [Read more...]
Why Remote Network IT Support For Small Business Is Critical?
In the digital age in which we now conduct business, having a reliable and robust IT system is not an option. Everything from internal computer systems to local and wide area networks have to be up and running at all times. To lose access to computer systems is to lose access to one of the most important tools for doing business in the modern era. To that end, IT support for small business should always include remote network support. Remote network support is that support offered by consultants and technicians not located on the client's physical premises. It can be offered over the phone, via video conferencing, or through logging on to an actual network for troubleshooting and repair. More importantly, remote network support is now considered mission-critical. It is as important to business as computer systems and networks themselves. Below are three reasons that make the case for having remote network support in place at all times. 3 Reasons for Remote Network IT Support For Small … [Read more...]
Ransomware: What It Is and How to Avoid It
How serious a problem is ransomware? According to Symantec, makers of the popular Norton suite of cyber security products, hackers employing the ransomware tactic are making millions of pounds every year. In one particular case they studied, 168 infected users paid a total of £27,064 on just one day alone. Ransomware is big business among hackers who know how to deploy it. Ransomware: What It Is Ransomware is a kind of malware that can be embedded on a computer, mobile device or even within a cloud environment. It uses some sort of threat or intimidation to extort payment of a fine. Hackers can completely lock users out, encrypt data so it cannot be accessed, or take sensitive data and spread it across the internet for public scrutiny. The malware uses cryptovirology (the practice of using cryptography to spread malicious software) to get in and take over a device or cloud environment. The most common form of ransomware is one that encrypts data so it cannot be accessed. Victimised … [Read more...]
Utilising a Fleet Effectively to Expand Your Business
(image: Pixabay) Operating a fleet is a great way to make your business grow. For SME owners, it’s one of the best methods to get your business recognised especially if you’re relatively new in the industry. A fleet can be used to build your brand and The Telegraph showed various ways to do it such as heightening your business's presence through visual impact and making a statement. More importantly, however, a fleet’s functionality is unparalleled especially in terms of logistics and service efficiency for SMEs that require mobility. Company cars are even enticers or retainers of top talent considering that they may be provided as incentives for your employees. But although the benefits of utilising a fleet are easily understood, the same can’t be said for fleet management. According to Small Biz Daily, a fleet may also be the biggest expense for any SME so if you’re unprepared, it can significantly damage your business instead of being an asset for growth. Thus, here are some … [Read more...]
Excel automation
Not more spreadsheets to analyse and chart… Always a regular cry in the office. Reports produced on a regular basis need to be embellished, with charts that involve some fairly complicated calculations – cross-reference look-ups, previous month comparisons, and all that sort of thing. Probably, now this is done largely by hand. The data sits in several spreadsheets and/or databases, and is extracted, filtered, pivoted and everything else that was necessary to get it ready, before feeding into a chart. When the chart was ready, it is pasted into the report. Wouldn’t it be great with the data is all in one place, and with a single front-end, the necessary criteria set from drop-downs. Once these selections have been made (locations, benchmarks, which dataset to use, and so on) you click a button and go and make coffee. Actually, you haven’t really got time to make coffee as the process takes just a couple of minutes – if that. In this instance, any number of queries can be … [Read more...]
Data Protection
Under the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) you must: use personal information fairly and lawfully; collect only the information necessary for a specific purpose(s); ensure it is relevant, accurate and up to date; only hold as much as you need, and only for as long as you need it; allow the subject of the information to see it on request; and keep it secure. Good information handling makes good business sense, and it provides a range of benefits. You'll enhance your business' reputation, increase customer and employee confidence, and by ensuring that personal information is accurate, relevant and safe, save both time and money. Your business has established an appropriate Data Protection Policy? A policy will help you to address data protection in a consistent manner. This can be a standalone policy statement or part of a general staff policy. The policy should clearly set out your business's approach to data protection together with responsibilities … [Read more...]
Achieve a good price when you sell your business
Its a sad fact that only 8% of small businesses are sold for a decent price. This is not good news if you are relying on selling your business for your pension, or indeed for any other purpose. However, many more businesses would be saleable for fair value if the owners had planned their exit in good time. Exit strategy Will you transfer your business within your family, or do you want to sell it - to an employee, or to an outside purchaser? How much do you want for it? When? Will you stay with it or move on? You'll need to think this through because your exit strategy will determine how you go about positioning your business for its eventual sale. Positioning your business for sale You’ll start with a valuation and you’ll almost certainly find it is well below what you need. So, then you’ll need an analysis of your business to show you what has to be done to achieve your price. This may include: getting your accounts in shape and audited; some growth, not the least to show … [Read more...]
Social Networking for Small Businesses
Social Networking is the term given to a variety of new techniques for communication with clients, customers, prospects and other interested parties. As with other marketing techniques it needs careful planning to ensure that the right message gets through to the right (target) audience. Whilst using social networking and media can be a blunt, scatter gun approach, with careful planning and dedicated application it can, like a rifle, be accurate, well targeted and can be useful in developing relationships with the target audience. What it is. Social networking is the name given to a variety of tools that can be used to develop relationships with customers. Of particular importance is the fact that the use of these tools will help to drive traffic to a website or blog and ultimately help search engine optimisation of the website. For businesses these tools can be used for reputation management, test marketing and feedback from customers on existing or proposed new products. It can … [Read more...]
